Historical Context Statement

Approved by the ​Board of Trustees of the Sutton Free Public Library on August 19, 2020
The Board believes that preserving contemporary and historical documents in their entirety and providing open access without any censorship is important, regardless of how the content might be viewed in the future.  Historical materials may contain offensive language or negative stereotypes and such materials should be viewed in the context of the relevant time period. 
 
Libraries, no matter their size, contain an enormous wealth of viewpoints and are responsible for making those viewpoints available to all. However, libraries do not advocate or endorse the content found in their collections or in resources made accessible through the library. The Sutton Free Public Library adheres to the principles of the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights. Libraries are a traditional forum for the open exchange of information and attempts to restrict access to library materials violate the basic tenets of the Library Bill of Rights.
 
We would like to gratefully acknowledge the statements made by the American Library Association, Baylor University, and New Trier High School which have been referenced in the creation of this statement.

Sutton High School Yearbooks